HR Leader - Manufacturing & Early Talent Growth

Oliver Valves Ltd; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Oliver Valves Ltd in Knutsford is seeking an HR Manager with manufacturing/engineering experience to provide practical, day-to-day HR support to managers and employees across the UK.

The role covers over 300 employees with a mix of generalist work and involvement in wider HR projects, including data integrity, analytics, talent programmes, and policy development.

You will work with GDPR compliance and drive improvements in engagement and retention while shaping competency frameworks.

Qualifications

• Strong generalist HR experience essential.
• Relevant degree or CIPD Level 5 qualification.
• Experience in manufacturing or engineering preferred.
• Familiarity with HR systems and Excel.
• Recruitment experience to support continuous recruitment drives.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical advice on generalist HR matters and resolve day-to-day people issues.
• Lead full employee lifecycle for assigned workforce, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, absence management, performance and offboarding.
• Oversee integrity and compliance of HR data, maintaining accurate employee records across HR systems in line with GDPR and internal standards.
• Monitor and analyse HR metrics to identify trends, provide insight, and inform continuous improvement across engagement, retention and operational effectiveness.
• Maintain and evolve site-level competency and training matrices, ensuring role requirements are clearly defined and aligned with compliance needs.
• Lead and coordinate development and implementation of early talent programmes (work experience, apprenticeships, placements, internships).
• Contribute to creation and rollout of job architecture and competency frameworks across functions and regions.
• Assist in review, development, and consistent application of HR policies and procedures, delivering training to line managers.

Skills

Generalist HR experience

Advising on sensitive matters

Organised

Prioritisation

Attention to employee data

Education

Degree or CIPD Level 5

Tools

HR systems

Excel

Job description

Oliver Valves Ltd in Knutsford is seeking an HR Manager with manufacturing/engineering experience to provide practical, day-to-day HR support to managers and employees across the UK.

The role covers over 300 employees with a mix of generalist work and involvement in wider HR projects, including data integrity, analytics, talent programmes, and policy development.

You will work with GDPR compliance and drive improvements in engagement and retention while shaping competency frameworks.